Knowledge Medical Insight: Polodoc Medical Insight: Polodoc Knowledge

Dr.med. Andreas Krüger is a Swiss board orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in Zurich, who specialises in knee and surgery. Andi is a second generation of tournament doctors for equine sports, known as Polodoc since 2013 and is a member at Legacy Polo Club in Switzerland

A facemask is one option to consider when Losing Teeth is Expensive protecting your face

something hits the mask as the mask simply shakes to divide the energy and – Losing an Eye is Priceless pass through the openings. Also those openings can help increase Injury patterns, treatment and protection cold air into the face to reduce sweating. Also in the pipeline are goggles as part of a Current discussion about face protection Injury to the Eyes: new range of protection equipment. is running hot – to wear or not wear is the Sports-related eye injuries are blunt, question. penetrating, and radiation injuries. The professional high goal players are The extent of ocular damage depends on Blueye glasses provide a range of benefits perhaps not the ideal role models due to the size, hardness, and velocity of the blunt WHEN TO SEE A extraordinary riding skills, however a study object, and the force imparted directly to the – Oakley is the most used brand with a wide mouthguards can reduce distortion to the SPECIALIST from C.M. Inness and K.L. Morgan showed eye. A direct blow to the globe from a blunt range of models. (lower jaw) and the acceleration of Eyes: only 30% of the polo players think that a object smaller than the eye’s orbital opening, – Blueye Eyewear UK Super Light Ballistic the head from the same blow, and therefore l Sudden decrease in or loss of vision safety standard mark on the helmet causes rapid anteroposterior compression Sunglasses is another model with high may have the potential to prevent mandibular l Pain on movement of the eye is important. and dilation of the middle of the globe, quality standards. They also exceed U.S. bone fractures and concussion. The proven l It would seem the most precious part transmitting a great force to the internal military ballistic impact requirements for benefit of a mouthguard is the dissipation Photophobia (extreme sensitivity to for a polo player, based upon the protection ocular structures. A blunt object larger than spectacles (MIL-PRF-31013, clause 3.5.1.1) of the forces delivered to the maxilla (upper light) worn, is the eye. However in middle and low the orbital opening exerts force on the floor and feature: high impact grilamide frame jaw), skull and temporomandibular joint l Diplopia (double vision) goal polo where the playing speed is lower of the orbit or the medial wall, resulting in material, interchangeable lens system, complex when the mandible receives a blow. l Light flashes or floating shapes and backward hits are not as common, this fractures of the thin bones. This pressure- 2.1mm Carl Zeiss precision optics lenses There is also stabilisation of the skull through l Irregularly shaped pupil maybe less of a problem. release valve may prevent rupture of the 100% UVA & UVB. increased neck muscle activity by clenching l Foreign-body sensation/embedded The starting point for face protection has globe. However, there is a high incidence of When deciding which eye protection to on the mouthguard. Critical for injury foreign body different levels due to multiple interests and internal ocular injuries purchase it is important to choose a model prevention, the mouthguard should have an necessities on the different playing skills. with a soft unbreakable frame and also ideal thickness after fabrication of 3mm, and l Red and inflamed eye l I interviewed several different colleagues Injuries to the Skull Bones: Duncan Qui has produced the Warrior Mask for facial unbreakable glasses, which allow free sight provide an occlusal surface balanced to the Hyphema ( in anterior chamber) including denists, opthamologist, oral and Skull fractures occur due to an impact to the protection in all directions. mandibular teeth. Only custom-made models l Broken contact lens or shattered maxillofacial/plastic surgeons who are polo head from either a blunt or sharp object. are recommended. eyeglasses players and or riders themselves or treat the Common examples in sports include Mouthguards “For adults/professional athletes. Three typical injuries. collisions between players in contact sports coating (polyamide 11 is the only polyamide Recent laboratory research showed that layers. For sports where extremely hard and General facial trauma: such as rugby, where fractures to the made from sustainable sources as it is pointed impacts may be received by the l Injury Pattern cheekbones and nose are common. In polo produced from castor oil). jaw. Independently tested and proven to be Any asymmetries in the face or crepitus should be checked in the Based on testimonials from FALCON Polo the risk of being hit by the ball or the stick Easy to attach and detach, provided “The world’s most protective mouthguard”. emergency room from more than 100 players in a period of is more common. Injuries by the horses can with stainless steel screws to fasten to a Particularly suited to extremely high impact two years, most players got a facial injury also occur but are quite rare. helmet. Built with just the right balance of sports such as senior rugby and hockey.” l Lacerations and concussion due a direct hit with the polo ball, and a Dental Injuries: strength to prevent serious damage from Playsafe Heavy Pro mouthguard, Mighty smaller portion due a hit with a stick, hit A cracked or fractured tooth, which has polo balls and swinging sticks, yet crushes mouthgards Teeth: with the horse head, and falls. There are wildly varying levels of severity, happens on impact partially absorbing shock in case l Dental avulsion (missing teeth) is a exceptional cases of injures due a kick of most often during sports when the of a fall. Future Trends – Warrior Mask for Polo real dental emergency, if teeth have the horse. player sustains an abrupt blow to the by Duncan Qui been knocked out bathe them in Therefore three main patterns are face. The National Youth Sports Safety Duncan was inspired by an old Chinese saliva and take it to an emergency responsible for facial injuries Foundation (NYSSF) estimates that players Glasses warrior mask from the battlefield, which room or a – Hit with ball who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times Sports frames with a 3-mm polycarbonate not just offered protection from arrows, but l Time is key, 20-40 minutes post- – Hit with the stick more likely to damage their teeth this way lens (for athletes participating in high-risk also intimidated the enemies in the night injury affects the prognosis of the – Direct force to head when hit by a during competition, and a tooth injury sports). Eye protection should be used by attack. In order to protect face injuries in tooth horse head or when falling off and hitting the of this nature can cause various athletes who wear contact lenses and by polo, Duncan designed the warrior mask. ground long-term problems. those who do not need corrective lenses. The mask is made from three liquids The athlete with refractive errors should wear mixed together, also the interior silica gel Facial Structures at Risk Safety Material: prescription polycarbonate lenses. not just creates the softness for the face, For more information – Superficial skin cuts and/or superficial Applying maximum safety gear is A sturdy sports frame meeting impact- but also allows the face to cool down on Polodoc contact injury to the eye recommended for all beginners and children. resistance standards (i.e., ASTM F803-01) the heat. The whole mask has a lot of Andreas Krüger at – Complicated injury to the eye and/or is required. Eyeguards without lenses do openings, on the side of nose and the [email protected] fracture of facial skull bone Face Mask – Casablanca not pass ASTM racquet sports eye safety The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF) side of the face, which were designed estimates that players who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 – Dental injuries Made from 3.2mm wire with a polyamide 11 standards. times more likely to damage their teeth to release energy and impact when

92 Polo Times, August 2017 www.polotimes.co.uk www.polotimes.co.uk Polo Times, August 2017 93